Public lands sell-off is back. Idaho’s delegation must fight it | Opinion
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Public lands support 37,500 Idaho jobs and $4B in outdoor recreation revenue.
- Proposed federal budget could include public land sell-offs, risking economies.
- Idaho leaders urged to oppose privatization to protect businesses and access.
At Northwest River Supplies, public lands are more than a beautiful backdrop — they form the very backbone of our business and our way of life.
Based in Moscow, NRS sits at the heart of a region defined by some of the most iconic rivers in the American West. Our customers raft the Salmon, cast lines into the Snake and find solace in our unmatched backcountry. We test gear in our backyard, recruit and retain talent drawn to our boundless outdoor opportunities and contribute to a $4 billion outdoor recreation economy here in our home state.
The numbers speak volumes: Outdoor recreation supports nearly 37,500 Idaho jobs and 5 million nationwide. In 2023, BLM-managed public lands alone hosted 82 million visits and fueled over $10 billion in economic activity across the country. Healthy, protected public lands aren’t sentiment or a fringe issue — they’re an anchor for our local economies.
That’s why we’re concerned about recent reports that a public lands sell-off will likely be in the budget reconciliation bill. Efforts to sell off public lands aren’t just shortsighted, they’re dangerous — and they put businesses like NRS at risk.
We are proud to be 100% employee-owned, and as employee-owners, each of us has a personal stake in the health and future of NRS. We take great care with our responsibility as paddlers, anglers and sportsmen.
As a father, I want to be able to tell my kids that we fought for the common lands and waters that make our home — and our country — the place that it is. Selling these lands may narrow the budget deficit today, but what will we lose in the process? Will our kids and grandkids have the same opportunities as us?
I hope they have more. I want our next generation of Americans — regardless of income or zip code — to have access to these wild places that stoke adventure and imagination. I want small businesses to sprout up and those that are already here to keep their doors open. Public lands are not a line item on a balance sheet; they are a lasting investment in our shared future. That investment is a no-brainer.
We understand that elected leaders face tough budget decisions, but we urge our Idaho members of Congress to resist using public lands as political bargaining chips. Because it’s not just those lands on the line, it’s us, their constituents and the rural economies and businesses those lands and waters support.
In Idaho, our elected leaders have a proud track record of standing up for our public lands. Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher: We’re calling on you to do the right thing this time too.
Protect our access to the great outdoors, and the well-being of our business and our communities in the process. Stop any effort that would privatize or jeopardize the lands that fuel our economy and inspire our communities. Because for companies like ours — and for countless Americans — public lands aren’t just where we work and play. They’re who we are. Let’s keep them that way.